The pen tip, soaked in ink, slowly scraped out on the Zuo Bu paper.
Thirty-five-year-old Zhang Yi, with a pale complexion, slightly overweight, and little facial hair, knelt in front of the desk and meticulously traced maps with intense concentration. His demeanor was elegant and far from that of a military general; rather, he seemed more like an erudite scholar.
He quickly sketched, outlining the shapes of Longshan Mountain, Wei River, and Xihexian Water with just a few strokes. However, Cao Rui, who was more than ten zhang away and watching Zhang Yi's drawing sequence, couldn't help but furrow his brow.
"Wait a moment." Cao Rui called out to Zhang Yi, "First draw the mountains, rivers, and terrain. The names and annotations can be written later. Write them in the order of north to south."
"North to south?" Zhang Yi was puzzled for a moment and asked in amazement.
"Rightly so, it's north above and south below." Sir Ma Si also explained, "Last year, the emperor sent his inner court officials to correct the national maps in Luoyang, which had already adopted the new style of mapmaking."
That's correct, the commonly used maps were traditionally drawn with south above and north below. But when Cao Rui looked at the existing maps hanging on the screen, he noticed that the Great Wei, which was located in the north, was actually depicted at the lower position in the map. It felt slightly uncomfortable to look at from a sensory perspective.
Of course, the main reason was that Cao Rui himself couldn't get used to it. North to south aligns more closely with later maps and looks more visually pleasing.
Zhang Yi was kneeling alone in front of the table to draw maps, while Cao Rui, along with Sir Ma Si and Yang Fu, were busy discussing the logistics arrangements that Xin Pai had made in Guanzhong.
Cao Zhen and Cao Rui led their troops from Luoyang to the west on the fifth and sixth days respectively, commanding a total of 24,000 cavalry.
Xu Chu, leading 16,000 infantry, also departed on the sixth day. With no weather or conditions hindering them for a day of 60 li, it has been twenty days now, covering a distance of 1,200 li. They are approximately at the eastern end of the Longshan Pass.
In about ten more days, Xu Chu's troops will be able to reach Shangguan or Ji County. Once the central army's infantry, which is skilled at storming fortresses, arrives, they will undoubtedly be able to further open up the situation in the Western Long River region.
However, within a half-cigar's time, Zhang Yi gently put down his brush and said with a bow: "Your Majesty, my vassal has completed the drawing of the map of Yizhou. The entire territory of Yizhou, including its mountains, rivers, counties, and townships, are all included in this map. Please allow me to present it to Your Majesty."
Cao Rui nodded and pointed to the screen originally hanging the map of the Longshan region.
Jiang Wei, with two tiger guards in tow, presented the Yizhou map and then stood to the side, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, the Yizhou map has been hung up."
Cao Rui nodded, slowly rising to his feet, casting off his sleeves, and walking slowly to the map in front of him to examine it closely.
"Zhang Yi, I have a question for you," Cao Rui asked directly without turning his head. "Are all the Sichuan troops' supplies transported to Hanzhong through the Qinian Trail? How long does it take to transport supplies from Chengdu first to Hanzhong and then to Qianshan?"
"Your Majesty," Zhang Yi rose and bowed, "It takes over twenty days to transport grain from Chengdu to Mianyang in Hanzhong Prefecture, and then another eight days from Mianyang to Qishan."
"Only eight days?" Cao Rui furrowed his brow and turned to ask Zhang Yi directly, "From Mianyang to Qishan, it is at least 600 li. Even with the help of the Xihexian River for transportation of grain, the river is not as large as the Yellow River or the Yellow tributaries, so how can it be transported in eight days?"
Everyone in the hall also stared at Zhang Yi with expressions of disbelief.
Zhang Yi said seriously with a respectful bow, "Your Majesty, it is indeed possible. Before the Han army set out, several granaries had been built along the Xihexian River. If things go smoothly, it can be done in six or seven days."
"All lies!" Yang Fu didn't mind that Zhang Yi referred to the 'Han army' as a unit, but stood up to refute: "How could Zhuge Liang transport grain at such a speed! Zhang Yi, show us!"
After speaking, Yang Fu got up and approached the side of the screen in front, waving to invite Zhang Yi over.
Seeing Zhang Yi looking at him with a questioning gaze, Cao Rui nodded gently to indicate his permission.
Zhang Yi walked quickly forward, bowed respectfully, and stood in the middle between the emperor and Yang Fu.
"Let's see it, Sir Yang," Zhang Yi said as he pointed from Mianyang to the east, following the outline of the Xihexian River. Finally, he pointed forcefully at the Qianshan Fort on the riverbank and said, "I'm not wrong, it's entirely possible to reach there in a total of eight days."
Yang Fu nearly laughed in exasperation, pointing to the distance between Mianyang and Wuxing and said, "I won't ask you about transporting grain on the Xihexian River. But tell me, is it true that the Sichuan army's grain is first transported to Mianyang via the Jinhuang Trail?"
Zhang Yi nodded, "What Sir Yang said is correct."
Yang Fu then asked, "Is Zhuge Liang mad? Why does he not put the grain in the Yangping Pass, following the Xihexian River, but rather transport it by land to Mianyang? And then transport it back to the side of the Xihexian River from Mianyang?"
Zhang Yi smiled awkwardly, "Ah, so that's what Sir Yang is talking about! Your Majesty and Sir Yang, please look. Zhuge Liang had constructed a..."
As Zhang Yi pointed to a place on the map of Mianyang with his finger, both Cao Rui and Yang Fu's eyes converged on that spot.
Almost simultaneously, as Zhang Yi bent down and prepared to strike with his finger, a determined glint flashed in his eyes. He glanced sideways with the corner of his eyes, looking at the great Wei emperor who was no more than two zhang away from him.
Jiang Wei stood to the side of the emperor, about ten li away from the emperor, Yang Fu, and Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi's unusual gaze immediately caused Jiang Wei's eyes to widen and his spirit to be startled.
A chill ran from the back of the head to the spine, and even the muscles on his body instinctively tightened up.
Too close! Too close!
I shouldn't have let Zhang Yi get so close to the emperor!
A mortal's rage, splattering blood five paces away. Within three zhang, everyone is an enemy!
Jiang Wei was about to speak a warning out of instinct, and he unconsciously took a step forward, reaching out to create a space between Zhang Yi and the emperor.
But it was already too late.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Yi bent his waist and shoulder, using all his strength to slam into the right side.
In just a moment, Cao Rui, caught off guard, was knocked off balance by Zhang Yi.
"Reversed official!"
"Your Majesty! "
"What audacity do you have?!"
Everyone in the hall was shocked. Sir Ma Yi and others who were originally sitting, their eyes wide open, stood up instantly. The ten armed soldiers standing guard at the sides of the hall rushed towards the emperor at the same time.
Cao Rui lost his balance, fell backward, and in a panic, could only use his hands to brace against the ground.
Zhang Yi was charging at him with a fierce expression, his left hand forming a claw, only a chi away from his face, and the air swirled by his hand was already attacking his face.
This person is definitely going to blind the emperor!
The swordsmanship evasion skills he practiced day and night, coupled with his good physical condition, finally came into play. Cao Rui's left hand supporting the ground pushed backward, his body rolled to the right and escaped Zhang Yi's charge.
In that extremely dangerous moment, fortunately, Cao Rui managed to escape on his own.
Otherwise...
Although he avoided the blow, Cao Rui was still shaken by the experience.
But for Zhang Yi, the precision of the Yizhou map, his own life, and the lives of the more than three thousand soldiers who had surrendered with him—all these were wasted on a completely ineffective strike.
He only had one chance.
The senior officials of the Wei Dynasty acted quickly.
Yang Fu, who was over fifty years old, pulled Zhang Yi's belt from behind and exerted force to pull him backward.
Jiang Wei also flew over and collided with Zhang Yi's chest with his shoulder, blocking the emperor's body and separating the emperor from Zhang Yi.
Sir Ma Yi, closest to the screen, swung his right foot and kicked Zhang Yi hard, sending him directly to the bottom of the screen. The falling screen covered Yang Fu and Zhang Yi.
At this point, there was no longer any danger to Emperor Cao Rui of the Great Wei.
As Zhang Yi fell to the ground, Jiang Wei, who was still on top of the emperor, didn't move.
It wasn't until a tiger guard ran in front of Zhang Yi, kneeling down to press his back, and pressing Zhang Yi's hands behind his back. Two more guards drew their swords, placing Zhang Yi's neck in a grip from both sides.
Cao Rui caught a glimpse of this scene through the corner of his eye, lying face up on the ground, and gently patted Jiang Wei's arm.
"Biaoqiao, stand up, the traitor has been subdued and pressed me so hard that it hurts."
Jiang Wei quickly stood up, and Cao Rui clapped his hands and got up from the ground, carefully adjusting his golden crown on his head with his hand and smoothing out his collar.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was in a hurry and had to resort to this measure, but it was not intentional to press your majesty." Jiang Wei stepped back a step, bowing respectfully to explain.
Cao Rui said with a faceless expression, "Biaoqiao's loyalty to protect the emperor is a great merit and no fault!"
Zhang Yi's head was forcefully stepped on by the tiger guards, and he could only make a whimpering sound, unable to speak in complete sentences.
The hall was completely silent, and no one dared to make a sound.
Everyone's eyes converged on Cao Rui.
Sir Ma Yi, who had kicked Zhang Yi and then stood still, also looked at the emperor. Although the emperor still wore a blank expression, the coldness in his eyebrows and eyes was so similar to the look of Emperor Cao Cao when he was about to kill someone in the past.
Cao Rui did not even glance at Zhang Yi, but walked forward two steps, bowing his head and looking down at Yang Fu, who was still weak and scared to sit on the ground. He reached out his hand.
"Yang Yin, get up."
At this moment, Yang Fu didn't know what to say and wasn't sure whether he should take the emperor's hand.
"Yang Yin, get up!" Cao Rui turned to Yang Fu and waved again, continuing to speak in a low voice.
Yang Fu bit his teeth gently, took the emperor's outstretched hand, and got up from the ground. Then he clenched his hands together and lowered his head, moving half a step to stand beside Sir Ma Yi.
Huan Fan, who was standing inside the door, ran into the hall and fell to his knees with a loud thud: "Please, Your Majesty, punish me! I truly did not know that this person intended to assassinate Your Majesty. I am worthy of ten thousand deaths and cannot atone for my sin!"
Huan Fan knelt on the ground, and his forehead heavily collided with the ground. He did this several times, and his forehead was already covered in blood after hitting the ground a few times.
Cao Rui turned around and focused on Huan Fan, but with a gesture of his hand, two tiger guards came over and pulled Huan Fan from the ground, holding him in place so he couldn't move.
Any sensible person could see the extreme anger in the emperor's face at this moment.
Since taking the throne about a year and a half ago, the emperor has been reforming systems, conquering the Dong Wu, reducing taxes, and personally rushing to aid the Longxi region.
Every matter, Cao Rui questioned himself in his heart without any guilt, and he had done what an emperor should do.
As an emperor, to be personally threatened with assassination right in front of him, and almost succeed, it's something no one would believe if they were to hear about it!
"I, as your emperor, have been lenient in allowing you to surrender. But you had the audacity to plot against me?"
Cao Rui's chest heaved up and down, his tightly clenched teeth making his cheekbones more pronounced, and his right hand unconsciously reached for the treasure sword at his waist.
For a moment, Cao Rui even thought about torturing and executing Zhang Yi in a cruel manner! (Chapter ends)
